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Rock Music's Most Underrated Guitarists

by thunderbird
47 replies
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Who would you put on the list? I'd include:
Mick Box (of Uriah Heep)
  • Profile picture of the author Ernie Lo
    Tom Keifer (Cinderella) I don't how well he ranks but I think his great anyway.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Don't know the guitarists name, but I've been digging the lead guitar in this song lately.


    Joe Bonamassa is underrated in that few outside of the blues circles know who he is.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    And one from your country, TB, Frank Marino...

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  • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
    Steve Rothery of Marillion and Tony Bourge of Budgie should be on there, however my number 1 choice for underrated guitarist is Martin Barre of Jethro Tull.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
      Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

      Steve Rothery of Marillion and Tony Bourge of Budgie should be on there, however my number 1 choice for underrated guitarist is Martin Barre of Jethro Tull.
      I was expecting you to say David Hole. Yeah, he's more blues, but it's rock blues. He's definitely underrated. Besides, anyone that plays with his hand over the top of the neck as much as he does instead of coming from underneath deserves some props.

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      • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
        Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

        I was expecting you to say David Hole. Yeah, he's more blues, but it's rock blues. He's definitely underrated. Besides, anyone that plays with his hand over the top of the neck as much as he does instead of coming from underneath deserves some props.

        David Hole - Short blues fuse - YouTube
        I was thinking of him, but I left him out because of the word "underrated" in the thread title. Of the people who know of Hole's work, he is highly rated.

        The same point applies to Kurt's choices above. All of them are superb guitarists, and highly rated, but not widely known.

        Yeah, I know, a semantic point, but there it is. Had the thread been titled "Sh1t hot guitarists who are not widely known to the general public", it would've been a different matter.

        There are many other guitarists who could be included in the underrated and/or unknown categories such as Steve Hackett, Trevor Rabin, Pat Travers, Steve Morse, Kerry Livgren and so on, and so on.

        It's all good stuff however you classify it.
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        • Profile picture of the author Kurt
          Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

          The same point applies to Kurt's choices above. All of them are superb guitarists, and highly rated, but not widely known.

          Yeah, I know, a semantic point, but there it is. Had the thread been titled "Sh1t hot guitarists who are not widely known to the general public", it would've been a different matter.
          If they aren't widely known to the public, IMO they are by definition "under rated".

          For example, I'd put Jeff Beck as the most under rated guitar player of them all. Of the 3 Yardbirds guitar players, both Page and Clapton have been given more credit. But ask them, as well as other guitar players, who the best is, and they'll say Jeff Beck.

          So...Do we use the public's general option or the opinion of other guitar players? If we use other players, there probably won't be nearly as many under rated players as there are with the general public.

          Since TBird didn't give a specific definition of what "under rated" or "rock" meant, that left a lot of room for personal interpretation. I used rated by the general public and gave a very wide definition of "rock".

          For example, Return to Forever is consided jazz fusion, but Al Dimeola's guitar on many of their songs is really rock:

          (I love this song)
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          • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
            Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

            If they aren't widely known to the public, IMO they are by definition "under rated".
            By that definition, I'm underrated - but I assure you I'm not. :p
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    • Profile picture of the author anderson24
      Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

      Steve Rothery of Marillion and Tony Bourge of Budgie should be on there, however my number 1 choice for underrated guitarist is Martin Barre of Jethro Tull.
      I just love Jethro Tull, offer unique music with involvement of the flute.
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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    the one and only dave edmunds
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  • Profile picture of the author lcombs
    Gary Rickrath from REO Speedwagon.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Here's three guys I feel are better than any of those posted above:



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  • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
    Lindsey Buckingham, Robin Trower, Alvin Lee, Joe Satriani, Brian Setzer...there's a lot of under-rated guys, and girls (Chrissie Hynde, Nancy Wilson...) the list is long...

    Angus Young, Dave Davies, Davey Johnstone...

    Some guitarists are underrated...some are overrated - it depends on whose rating them...
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  • Profile picture of the author mojojuju
    Prince.

    ...
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    • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
      Originally Posted by mojojuju View Post

      Prince.

      ...
      I was actually going to use Prince as an example, because I personally underrated him until I saw him play - and he completely changed my opinion.

      But he is listed as like #30 or so of the top 100...so I figured someone was giving him cred...
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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    i will add george harrison to the list, even he underestimated himself, mr versatility
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Oh, I even think Mclaughlin deserves to be in best guitarist,just saying he isn't rock imo.
    But its all subjective, The guitarist in Tull,which actually started out as a blues band, definitely has some great rock riffs.

    I definitely will check out Jordan though,thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Jimi Hendrix & John McLaughlin


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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    This is where I first heard of DiMeola and McLaughlin, so I tend to think of them in more of a jazz light. Not rock, but some mighty fine playing here.

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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt



    And the guy that pretty much invented rock and roll lead guitar:

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  • Profile picture of the author mojojuju
    Move over Eddie Van Halen ...

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  • Profile picture of the author mojojuju
    I'm so sorry.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Couldn't find the LP version,but this is good enough:
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Peter Green was blue, Bob Welch took them more mainstream and Lindsey Buckingham made them top 40 material.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Let's also add George Clinton of the Parliment Funkadelic:

    And Eddie Hazel, also from Parliment Funkadelic:
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Interesting thoughts Kurt.
    Almost every person I know knows of and holds in high regard as one of the best Jeff Beck,but that may be because most of my life I was involved in music one way or another.
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  • Profile picture of the author lcombs
    We seem to have 2 problems here:

    1. How do you define "under-rated"?

    2. How do you define "Rock"?

    Example: I never thought of Al Di Meola or John McLaughlin as under-rated.
    because I've familiar with them for years and always accepted that they both great.

    However, I also never thought of them as "rock" musicians.

    And, Les Paul, I think, has always recieved his due credit as a great "Jazz" musician.

    And, if Roy Buchanan is under-rated, then should Leslie West be included as well?

    Toy Caldwell, Henry Paul, Vince Gill....

    Just sayin' :rolleyes:
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    • Profile picture of the author Kurt
      Originally Posted by lcombs View Post

      We seem to have 2 problems here:

      1. How do you define "under-rated"?

      2. How do you define "Rock"?

      Example: I never thought of Al Di Meola or John McLaughlin as under-rated.
      because I've familiar with them for years and always accepted that they both great.

      However, I also never thought of them as "rock" musicians.

      And, Les Paul, I think, has always recieved his due credit as a great "Jazz" musician.

      And, if Roy Buchanan is under-rated, then should Leslie West be included as well?

      Toy Caldwell, Henry Paul, Vince Gill....

      Just sayin' :rolleyes:
      There's really no problem. I explained myself and my reasoning and already answered your 2 questions. You can agree or disagree.

      Myself, I'd say George Harrison was vastly over-rated and not in the class of any of the guitar players I posted. Yet, he is/was much more famous.

      BTW, Rolling Stone had an article where they called Roy Buchanan "The best guitar player you never heard of"...And I don't think any of Roy's songs were ever played on mainstream radio since Sunset Over Broadway in the 60s.

      Again, I'm not using "the informed fan's" opinion as my criteria for being under rated...I'm using what I feel is the general "public's" opinion. Fans of guitar players know Les Paul. But he's far from being well known with the public.

      As far as including others, you can include whoever you want. Some of us may agree, some may not.
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      • Profile picture of the author lcombs
        Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

        There's really no problem. I explained myself and my reasoning and already answered your 2 questions. You can agree or disagree.

        Myself, I'd say George Harrison was vastly over-rated and not in the class of any of the guitar players I posted. Yet, he is/was much more famous.

        BTW, Rolling Stone had an article where they called Roy Buchanan "The best guitar player you never heard of"...And I don't think any of Roy's songs were ever played on mainstream radio since Sunset Over Broadway in the 60s.

        Again, I'm not using "the informed fan's" opinion as my criteria for being under rated...I'm using what I feel is the general "public's" opinion. Fans of guitar players know Les Paul. But he's far from being well known with the public.

        As far as including others, you can include whoever you want. Some of us may agree, some may not.
        I guess 'problem' was the wrong word.

        "
        Again, I'm not using "the informed fan's" opinion as my criteria for being under rated...I'm using what I feel is the general "public's" opinion. Fans of guitar players know Les Paul. But he's far from being well known with the public."

        I would apply that same logic to George Harrison.
        I don't think the general public appreciates how good he was.

        Definitely not wanting to argue. I apologise if my intent was mistaken.
        Just friendly discussion.

        There's also the time-line to consider.
        Us 'Geezers' recognize, and take for granted many of the greats that the younger Warriors say, "Who the Hell is he!?"

        And, rock-n-roll is a compisation of many different genres from country to Blues and jazz.

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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by lcombs View Post

      We seem to have 2 problems here:

      1. How do you define "under-rated"?

      2. How do you define "Rock"?<snip>
      That's true. There are a lot of rock genres and overlaps. When I think about it I just get confused. "Underrated" definition? What are you trying to do, make me use my brain or something? I guess underrated would simply mean not really getting the acknowledgment they deserve for their guitar playing skills, especially by "authorities".
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      • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
        Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

        That's true. There are a lot of rock genres and overlaps. When I think about it I just get confused. "Underrated" definition? What are you trying to do, make me use my brain or something? I guess underrated would simply mean not really getting the acknowledgment they deserve for their guitar playing skills, especially by "authorities".
        Key point right there.
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  • Profile picture of the author lcombs
    How could we forget our own Stevie Wags!?
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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    by his own admission harry chapin must in the out crowd

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  • Profile picture of the author lcombs
    Gotta tell ya, Kurt.
    I believe you hit the mark on Stanley Jordan.

    Thanks for the turn-on.
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